Dental care is essential for everyone, but many patients may have doubts about the accuracy of their dentist’s diagnoses and treatments. Some dentists may end up over treating patients, leading to unnecessary expenses, while others might miss important issues that could become more serious and costly in the future. Seeking a second opinion from another dentist can help patients feel more confident in their treatment plans, but this may not always be feasible due to time and cost constraints.
Recognizing this issue, many dentists are turning to AI-powered software that uses computer vision to analyze dental X-rays and identify potential dental diseases. Pearl, a startup that has FDA clearance to use AI to assist dentists in making accurate diagnoses and providing patients with a second opinion, recently announced that it has secured $58 million in funding in a Series B round led by Left Lane Capital, with participation from Smash Capital, Alpha Partners, Craft Ventures, and Neotribe Ventures.
Founded by Ophir Tanz, who incubated Pearl within GumGum, a computer vision startup, Pearl aims to revolutionize dental diagnosis by leveraging AI technology. By standardizing how dentists interpret X-rays and utilizing a vast dataset of dental images to train AI models, Pearl’s diagnostic software has shown promising results. Dentists using Pearl’s software have reported a 30% increase in patients accepting recommended treatments, as the tool helps visualize dental problems more clearly than traditional X-rays.
While AI can aid dentists in identifying potential issues, Tanz emphasizes that the software is designed to complement, not replace, a dentist’s clinical judgment. The ultimate decision still lies with the dentist, who can use Pearl’s recommendations as a guide in providing the best possible care to patients. Pearl’s revenue has seen a remarkable 458% growth in 2023, indicating a growing demand for AI-powered dental diagnostics.
Looking ahead, Tanz is optimistic about the future of AI in dentistry, believing that AI-powered diagnostics will become a global standard of care sooner than expected. He envisions widespread adoption of this technology within the next three years, as more dentists recognize the benefits of AI in improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Pearl faces competition from other startups like Video Health and Overject, which have also received FDA clearance for similar AI capabilities and have seen substantial investments in the industry.
As the dental industry continues to embrace AI technology for improved diagnostics, patients can look forward to more accurate and efficient dental care. With startups like Pearl leading the way in AI-powered dental diagnosis, the future of dentistry is poised to be revolutionized by cutting-edge technology that enhances patient care and outcomes.